U.S. patent number 4,676,408 [Application Number 06/743,651] was granted by the patent office on 1987-06-30 for case in two portions assembled by a latching device, notably a refillable sprayer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Teleplastics Industries S.A.. Invention is credited to Francois Speitel.
United States Patent |
4,676,408 |
Speitel |
June 30, 1987 |
Case in two portions assembled by a latching device, notably a
refillable sprayer
Abstract
A case in two positions assembled by a latching device,
particularly a refillable sprayer comprising two portions (1-5)
assembled by a shape fit of non cylindrical skirts (8-9). The inner
skirt (8) has in at least two opposite portions, angularly distant
from the portions of the section having the largest spacing, studs
(10) protruding inwardly or grooves, part (5) carrying the outer
skirt (9) comprising a latch (6) rotatably mounted about its
geometrical center and having two opposite wings (18) adapted, by
being rotated with the assistance of a control knob (27) protruding
above the upper surface (26) of that part (5) to be engaged
underneath the studs (10) or inside the grooves.
Inventors: |
Speitel; Francois (Parigne
L'Eveque, FR) |
Assignee: |
Teleplastics Industries S.A.
(Parigne L'Eveque, FR)
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Family
ID: |
9305068 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/743,651 |
Filed: |
June 11, 1985 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 15, 1984 [FR] |
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84 09404 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/384 (20130101); B65D 83/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/14 (20060101); B65D 083/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/182,130-131,183,321,383 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2460407 |
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Jun 1976 |
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DE |
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2344340 |
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Oct 1977 |
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FR |
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2537093 |
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Jun 1984 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Marmor; Charles A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
I claim:
1. A case in two portions assembled by a latching device,
comprising a refillable sprayer comprising two portions assembled
by a shape fit of inner and outer non cylindrical skirts, the inner
skirt having in at least two opposite portions angularly spaced
from the portions of the inner skirt having the greatest spacing,
studs protruding inwardly, the outer skirt comprising a latch
rotatably mounted about its geometrical center, said latch having
two opposite wings adapted, when rotated with the assistance of a
control knob protruding above the upper surface of said part
forming the outer skirt, to engage underneath said studs, the outer
skirt carrying the latch forming a cover of the case, the control
knob being hollow and formed with an axial passage for an atomizing
member of a refill, the fixation of the latch on the outer skirt
comprising a snap-in engagement of beads carried by resilient lugs
in the shape of cylindrical sectors protruding underneath the edge
of the control knob in an oblong orifice of the outer skirt, said
oblong orifice comprising circular sectors matching the periphery
of the lugs and notches for the passage of the two opposite wings
of the latch when said latch is in a non-latching position.
2. A case according to claim 1, wherein the latch includes
abutments limiting its angle of rotation, said control knob having
a non-circular shape.
3. A case according to claim 1, wherein a compressible resilient
member is mounted in the bottom of the inner skirt and presses the
refill against the outer skirt in order to bring the wings of the
latch to bear against the studs of the inner skirt, the engagement
between the control knob and support surface on the outer skirt
occurring along a non-circular domed surface.
4. A case according to claim 2, wherein the resilient lugs in the
shape of cylindrical sectors and the two corresponding circular
sectors of the oblong hole have different radii, the two side edges
of the lug of largest radius coming into abutment against shoulders
forming the connections between the circular sectors in order to
limit the rotation of the latch and to lock it in its latching and
unlatching states.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates more particularly to so-called
refillable sprayers comprising an outer case or envelope presenting
a good decorative appearance and which can be of high price, and an
inner container, called "refill", in a material such as glass,
metal or plastics which is of lower price and which can be
discarded once the product contained therein is consumed. The outer
envelope is usually made of two portions which can be separated in
order to allow the insertion of the refill. One of the two portions
forms the side wall and bottom or upper portion, and the other
reversely the upper portion or cover, or the bottom.
STATE OF THE ART
The problem encountered in the manufacture of such refillable
sprayers resides essentially in the assembly of the two portions of
the outer envelope, said assembly having to provide a good
connection between the two portions in order to avoid an accidental
opening, thereby excluding simple friction fit assemblies. The
assemblies most currently used are the so-called screw or bayonet
assemblies. However, said assemblies are only usable when the
assembly is between two circular or substantially circular
sections. The screw assembly requires larger thicknesses since the
threads have to be cut out from the thickness of the skirts fitting
into each other, and requires outer protrusions on the two portions
for allowing applying manually the screwing and unscrewing torque,
whereby the latter can be very high in the event of dirt
accumulation or difficult to apply with greasy or wet gripping
surfaces. Said outer gripping surfaces influence the general
appearance of the envelope. The bayonet assembly has the same
disadvantages although allowing, if a slight clearance between the
outer skirt and the inner skirt is accepted, a slight ovalization
of the sections.
As soon as the section of the outer envelope deviates from the
circular shape, the only known assembly to this day is a friction
fit assembly.
Yet, for aesthetic or space requirement reasons, non circular
shapes with square, polygonal, rectangular or oval section are
frequently desired. The same problem occurs at present with all
containers having the same arrangement as the case or envelope of
refillable sprayers, such as small boxes which must be openable in
order to provide access to the products contained therein.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention and to a first feature, this result is
reached due to the fact that in an envelope in two portions
assembled by a shape fit of non cylindrical skirts, the inner skirt
has, in at least two opposite portions angularly distant from the
portions of the section having the largest spacing, studs
protruding inwardly or grooves, and the portion carrying the outer
skirt comprises a latch rotatably mounted about its geometrical
center and having two opposite wings adapted, when rotated with the
assistance of a control knob projecting above the upper surface of
said part, for engagement underneath said stud or inside said
grooves.
Preferably, the latch includes abutments limiting its angle of
rotation and its control knob has a non cylindrical section for
improving the grip allowing exerting the latching or unlatching
torque.
According to another feature applicable notably to atomizers or
sprayers, the portion carrying the latch forms the envelope cover
and the control knob is hollow and is formed with an axial passage
for the passage of the spraying member.
According still to another feature, a compressible resilient member
is mounted in the bottom of the envelope body and presses the
refill against the cover in order to bring the latch wings to rest
against the support surfaces of the studs or grooves.
According to still another feature, the engagement between the
control knob and the cover support surface is accomplished by means
of an eccentric surface so as to provide a resilient cam effect,
the unlatching being effected with an extra compression of the
resilient member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other features of the invention will become more apparent from the
reading of the detailed description of an embodiment of a
refillable sprayer, the description being made with reference to
the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a sprayer with an oval
section, in its position of use,
FIG. 2 is a view after a rotation of the latch for causing the
unlatching,
FIG. 3 is a view thereof with the cover removed,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof in the plane of the larger axis,
the sprayer being provided with a cap,
FIG. 4a is a detailed view of FIG. 4,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof, in the plane of the smaller
axis,
FIG. 5a is a detailed view of FIG. 5,
FIG. 6 is a top view thereof, with the cap removed,
FIG. 7 is a detailed plan view of the hood,
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the latch,
FIG. 9 is a bottom view thereof,
FIG. 10 is a sectional view thereof along line X--X of FIG. 8,
FIG. 11 is an elevation view with a partial cross-section along
line XI--XI of FIG. 8, and
FIG. 12 is an elevation view along line XII--XII of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
In the drawings, reference 1 designates the body of the sprayer
envelope, reference 2 the cap or cover fixed on the body for
enclosing the spraying head, reference 3 designates the refill,
reference 4 the pusher of the refill spraying pump, reference 5 the
hood or cover of the envelope body, reference 6 the latch and
reference 7 the resilient pad placed in the envelope bottom.
Body 1 of the sprayer envelope is made, as cap 2, of a material
having a good surface appearance. They are of a cylindrical shape
with an oval cross-section. Body 1 has in its upper portion a
narrowed portion 8 for the fitting of hood 5 via skirt 9. Said
portion 8 carries, at the two diametrically opposite points of the
small axis of the cross-section, small shelves 10 protruding
inwardly, the contour of the inner edge of said small shelves being
oval.
For closing, cap 2 fits on a step 11 of hood skirt 9, and is
maintained thereon in a removable manner through the interlocking
of protrusions 12 provided on the vertical surface of said step
inside corresponding notches formed near the edge of the cap inner
surface.
The refill 3 is made of a material non sensitive to the product it
contains and is most often glass. On its neck is crimped a plug 13
maintaining the pump and the pusher 4 of the spraying member of
known type. The section of the refill is such that it can be
engaged inside body 1 of the envelope. To this effect, its said
faces have hollowed portions 14 for exposing shelves 10. The refill
rests at the body bottom on resilient pad 7 which is made of a ring
carrying resilient lugs 15 extending radially toward the
center.
Hood 5 forms a cover which, as hereabove described, maintains
refill 3 within body 1. It fits via its skirt 9 on the narrowed
portion 8 of the body and, via step 11, inside the free edge of cap
2. It is formed in its upper surface with an orifice designated by
general reference 16, said orifice being oblong in shape, with its
larger dimension along the greater axis of the hood oval. The two
ends of orifice 16 which are on the greater axis form notches 17
for the passage of the stud branches 18 of the latch which will be
described hereafter. Starting from the opposite corners 19 of said
notches, the orifice is defined by two arcs of circles 20 and 21
centered on the oval axis, the arc of circle 20 having a radius
slightly larger than the arc of circle 21. Said portions 20-21 are
connected to the other corner 22 of notches 17 by arcs of circles
23-24 having respectively the same radii as the arcs of circles 21
and 20. The connection region between the arcs of circles 20, 23
and 21, 24 forms an abutment 25 opposing the rotation of hoods. The
upper surface 26 of the hood is upwardly ovoidal for providing a
cam effect with the latch lower face.
Latch 6 comprises a cup-shaped body 27 of oval cross-section, with
a skirt 28. From the two points at the ends of the smaller axis,
skirt 28 is prolongated by branches 29 carrying the studs 18. The
spacing between studs 18 and the length of branches 29 is such that
when the latch is in engagement on the upper face of hood 5 and
rotated such that the studs are in the direction of the hood small
axis, studs 18 come into engagement underneath shelves 10 of
envelope body 1.
From the cup bottom 27 depend two prongs in the shape of
cylindrical sectors 30 and 31 centered on the latch axis and
symmetrical with respect to the oval greater axis, the outer radii
of said cylindrical sectors 30 and 31 corresponding to the radii of
the arcs of circles 20 and 21 respectively and the angular
development bring close to 90.degree.. Each of the tongs carries,
underneath the edge of skirt 28, a bead 32 which is distant from
the surface containing the edge of skirt 28 by just over the
thickness of the hood in order to allow the securement, by a
snap-in engagement of said beads underneath the edge of the hood
orifice 16, of said latch 6 on said hood 5. The surface of the
latch edge is adapted to the ovoidal shape of the upper surface of
the hood. The bottom of the latch is formed in its center with a
circular orifice 33 for the passage of the pump pusher cap.
As explained hereabove, the mounting of latch 6 on hood 5 is
accomplished by engaging branches 29 carrying the studs 18 in
notches 17, the branch 30 with the shape of a cylindrical sector of
larger radius being opposite the arc of circle 20 of orifice 16.
The connection is the carried out by forcing latch 6 onto the hood
in order to bring beads 32 underneath the hood surface. From then
on, latch 6 can be rotated with respect to hood 5, the amplitude of
the orientation being limited to 90.degree. by the abutment of the
edges of the cylindrical sector shaped prong 30 of larger radius
against the connections 25.
When the sprayer is in a closed state, hood 5 fits via its skirt 9
on the narrow edge 8 of the envelope body 1 and retains the refill
3 with a slight compression of resilient pad 7. Studs 18 are
engaged underneath tongs 10, thereby blocking the hood in position
on the inner envelope body 1. In order to refill the sprayer, viz.
to change refill 3, the latch 6 is turned over a quarter of a turn
in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 2) thereby disengaging studs 18
from tongs 10 and the assembly formed by hood 5 and latch 6 can
then be extracted in the direction of arrow S (FIG. 3). Once the
refill 3 has been replaced, the closing is carried out by reversed
operations.
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